New-York tribune., 1887-04-26
Benjamin f. Thurston John Boyle OReilly and others
message was sent by cable to Mr.. Gladsone~and MI
Dor
BIG BLAZE IN BROOKLYN.
A LARGE FACTORY GOES UP IN FLAMES.

OVER 5000, 900 LOST BY A AGAs-FIxTURE COMPANY
THE FIREMEN BLAMED FOR DELAY.
The factory of tho W. c. vosburgh Manufacturing Com
pany makers Of gas fixtures In Statest, between smith
and Hoyt sts was destroyed by fire last even
ing, causing loss Of y over $2OOOOO,
mainly covered by insurance There were about 2oo
girls employed in the factory which was four
story brick structure. 125 by 100 feet in sze All left
the building o'clock and 1t locked up. At 6:lO
the fire was discovered near the office
In the southwest corner. There was con-
siderable delay in the arrival Of the re-engnes The
fire broke out in packingroom. quickly spread In tho
nhammable material and was carried by an elevator
shaft to the upper floors 1t extended with such rapidy
that BY the time that the engines got at work the hames
bursting through the roof and the destruction OF the
entire building was threatened.
As Chief Engineer Nevins arrived at the dre he
sent out second alarm. The building was filled
with machinery and manufactured goods, and
there walls dividing the floors.
Tho floors soaked with oil
large quantity of lacquer and varnish used in finishing
From all these causes the huge building soon
roared like mighty furnace % tae so,,aS Ia%es mes
ward The flames were confined to the factory, the
work of the dremen being aided by the fact that at the
@ series n' of vacant lots. The fire was prao.
tcay under control before it had extended to the other
entire emu so as Of the wa gue
opposite the fronting schermerhorn.st were in
them from catching fire. Thousands Of
persons gathered In the adjoining streets
TO watch the The only incident the rescung of
a fine setter dog from the factory by fireman. Inc
wall fell after the tire had gained full headway
After burning nearly two hours the fire was virtually
ont.
The building was erected about twenty years ago, by
Vosburgh Day. After the latter died,
the W. c. vosburgh Manufacturing Company was formed,
lam Duryea the president Of the company, and Wright
Duryea his brother, the president & the Glen Cove
starcn Manufacturing Company. Mr. Vosburgh parted
with his interest about two years ago and Is now
Interested In the Brooklyn Gas Fixture Company.
The st factory recently enlarged ana mucn
machinery put In II. new saesroom was
built in Fulton-st. near Gallatn place. year ago.
The representatives OF the firm estimated the loss from
the fire at from 5000 900 TO S25OOOO The building was
valued at $4,000 said superintendent Louis Duryea
nephew OF the presidents the machinery could not
be replaced for 100000 as some OF 1t was unlqe
and there stock Of manufactured goods OF every
nearly 100000 Mr. Duryea said 1t was fully
twenty minutes from the time the alarm
was given before the first engine got to
work. The insurance on the building, machinery,
and stock was placed with Beecher Il Benedict and
amounted to Sl50000. The names OF the companies
could not ascertaned Mr. Duryea thought the loss
would be 100000 above the insurance The cause OF
the known hut there suspicion OF incen-
diarism IL s thought that some one might have care
material and II smouldered for some time,
or that a match may have been dropped and was
gnawed by "a mouse The eDgine-room was on the nrst
floor the rear but the fire originated In the 'front.' no
wachmsn In tho place at night The factory VIII po
rebuilt